FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 27, 2003

ISF WILL RETURN TO CHINA
FOR ’06 WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Bid is Successful for Beijing to Host Marquee Event

China was awarded the next International Softball Federation (ISF) Women’s World Championship at the XXI ISF Congress that concluded this weekend in Nanjing, China. The event will take place in 2006 in Beijing. In addition, the Congress delegates voted in favor of Canada’s bid to host the next ISF Jr. Men’s World Championship, which will take place in Summerside, Prince Edward Island in 2005.

“Our world championships have proven to be first class events, and we’re confident that that will continue to be the case in Canada and China in 2005 and 2006, respectively,” said ISF President Don Porter. “Both made excellent presentations in bidding on the two events and will make great hosts for these two tournaments.”

China beat out Cape Town, South Africa and Verona, Italy. The winning bid presentation included a letter of support signed by both the Mayor of Beijing and the President of BOCOG (Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad). Highlighting the plan for the XI Women’s World Championship are a 10,000-seat stadium at the core of a multi-field complex and a commitment to building a softball training center.

China’s bid was presented by Mrs. HE Huixian, President of the Chinese Softball Association and Vice President for the Chinese Olympic Committee. The tournament will be held from October 15-25, 2006.

Summerside also hosted the Jr. Men’s World Championship in 1989. Their presentation was made by Bid Chair John Brown of Miscouche, PEI & Softball Canada CEO Hugh Mitchener.

Softball Canada President Kevin Quinn (Charlottestown, PEI) said, “Softball has a very strong following in Prince Edward Island and Atlantic Canada and we expect that this will be a tremendous celebration of the sport.” The 19-and-under fast pitch event is scheduled for June 22 to July 1, 2005 in Queen Elizabeth Park in Summerside.

Preceding the just-concluded Congress was the ISF’s VII Jr. Women’s World Championship (19-and-under), which took place at the new stadium at Nanjing University of Technology. The XI Men’s World Championship comes up in January in Christchurch, New Zealand.

For more information, please contact ISF Director of Communications Bruce Wawrzyniak at brucew@internationalsoftball.com or (813) 864-0100, ext. 229.

Regarding Canada’s successful bid, media members may also contact Softball Canada Marketing & Communications Director Lisette Johnson-Stapley at (613) 523-3386 or lstapley@softball.ca